The weather has been fitting this week to get everybody in the mood for Halloween with eerie foggy nights and light drizzle for those fishing the surf, inlets, or ocean. Is that a surf fisherman plugging for stripers or a ghostly sprit walking the shoreline? Striped bass fishing has really started to pop with schools starting to slow move into parts of Ocean County. It will be a matter of time, before schools enter Atlantic and Cape May counties, but at least they are hugging the coast for now. Reports of bass on bunker and sand eels is very positive for both beach and boat fisherman as it could foreshadow a longer season for South Jersey. Tog fishing is very good for your 1-fish limits and there are some big tog very close to the beaches and along the inlets.
Fishing Report For Southern New Jersey
Capt. Bill’s Landing in Point Pleasant Beach reported a big week for big striped bass according to most anglers working the 3-mile line on the troll and there were a few anglers that got into snag-n-drop action. Beach anglers have been picking at some nicer fish and some there have been good reports of sand-eels off the beach which could bode well for the rest of the season. Tog fishing has been very good from the Point Pleasant Canal to wrecks and rockpiles in 30 foot of water off the beach. Anglers working eels in the Manasquan and Shark River inlets at night have been picking up stripers.
Norma K III in Point Pleasant Beach had good sized Porgies swinging over the rail along with a few keeper sea bass, but it’s been slower on the bass. The Dogfish have been a major problem as they have been making anglers work for their catches. With the size increase looming, the boat may go deeper for Ling or switch to 3/4-day blackfish trips, and as of November 16th will run 3/4 tog trips daily.
The Gambler out of Point Pleasant Beach reported great fishing in the canyons with yellowfin Tuna up to 60 pounds and Mahi being caught in the slick. There were a few nice swordfish landed on the trip.
The MIMI VI out of Point Pleasant was out fishing the wrecks for sea bass, Ling, and some tog, but the weather has been a little uncooperative. The boat is currently booking a bunch of November and December trips for striped bass, sea bass/Porgy, and blackfish. Right now, there are too many dates to list, so check their website or give them a ring.
Jersey Hooker Outfitter in Brick received good reports of anglers getting into snag and drop action early with fish to 40 pounds being weighed in. Most have been fishing north of the Manasquan Inlet. Tog fishing is still good around the Point Pleasant Canal and the Manasquan Inlet rocks on Green Crab and jigs.
Charlie’s Bait & Tackle in Normandy Beach reported good days for stripers when anglers had chances to get out of the inlets. Bass have been caught on the troll from Seaside to Manasquan with some approaching 50 pounds. The shop advises looking for the snag-n-drop early in the morning as some of the bass have been feeding on top.
Grumpy’s Bait & Tackle in Seaside Park had poor weather with fog and drizzle off the beaches, but the striped bass have been cooperating on plugs and soft plastics. Fisherman said they had better reports in the evenings on Daiwa SP Minnows and some even snagged sand-eels while working lures. Anglers soaking chunked bunker are doing well on stripers, but some Dogfish have been in the mix. The weekend through next week look very favorable to fish off the beach or on the boats.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported some stripers in the 40-pound class picking on bunker and Mojo rigs off Seaside to Mantoloking. White and Chartreuse has been the better colors for hookups. Tog fishing is still solid around the Barnegat Inlet with both jetty and boat fisherman reporting good numbers of tog. There have been a few nice keepers in the mix with the S&S White Chin Wrecker scoring well.
Reel Reaction Charters out of Waretown and Barnegat Light fished during the week with a buddy to box a few tog to 6 pounds while releasing close to 30. The weekend charter had both keeper tog and tagged stripers fishing around the bay. The skipper will be running striped bass and tog trips through Christmas and has some December weekends available.
Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom reported good tog fishing off both sides of the Barnegat Inlet on Green Crabs. Striped bass has been good for fish up to 30 inches around the inlet and bay, while 40-pound fish have been caught on the troll off Seaside on Maja spoons and Magictail Mojos. Sea bass fishing has been tough with the ocean conditions, but the best bite has been 15 to 30 miles out.
Brigantine to Sea Isle City reported good tog fishing from the jetties and rockpiles on Green Crab as the Atlantic City had a good number of fishermen weighing in keeper blackfish. Striped bass have been more on the schoolie side with an occasional keeper, and the better fish have been on live bait such as Spot or Eel. Some of the bridges along Ocean, Sea Isle, and Avalon reported schoolie striped bass and Weakfish to 20 inches being landed on soft plastic Zoom lures. The action in the canyons continued to be red-hot over the weekend with Yellowfin, Mahi, and Swordfish being landed from the Toms to the Baltimore.
Jim’s Bait & Tackle in Cape May reported some Specked Trout being caught off the beaches and around some of the rocks on soft plastics. striped bass fishing been pretty good with more short fish than keepers, and the range has been from 20 to 44 inches. The shop feels after some colder temperatures move in that the bass bite should blow wide open. Tog fishing remains excellent off the jetties with Green Crab being the best bait and sea bass has also been firing at the 110- to 130-foot depths
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for this weekend will be to target striped bass or tog as the weather looks outstanding and a dip in the temperatures should get the fish firing at all locations. Boaters snagging bunker or trolling traditional striper gear will have the best shots at bigger fish. Anglers working live bait or soft plastics closer to shore and the inlets should have good shots at smaller striped bass, but don’t count out a keeper. Tog fishing has been on fire at the inlet jetties and rocks, so it remains the best and quickest way to put a nice meal on the table. Most anglers have been catching keepers within the first 30 minutes of fishing, so it’s not a bad idea to get your 1 keeper on ice then target striped bass. Good Luck Be Safe, and Tight Lines!